TIMERGARA/KHAR, Nov 23: Jamiat Tulba Arabia (JTA), Lower Dir on Saturday took out a rally against the recent US drone attack on a seminary in Hangu, Nato supplies and Ashura violence in Rawalpindi.

Carrying banners and placards, the protesters marched on the road from Ahyaul Uloom Balambat to Timergara Press Club.

Speaking on the occasion, JTA district president Qari Badshah Zada, Jamaat-i-Islami, Timergara chief Dr Inayatul Haq and Balambat chief Maulana Abdul Kaleem alleged that the US had been violating the international laws and basic human rights through drone attacks in Pakistan’s tribal and settled areas.

They said the federal government should sever diplomatic relations with the US over drone strikes.

The speakers also urged the government to distance itself from the US-led ‘war on terrorism’ over the repeated violation of its sovereignty and dignity.

Also in the day, the Bank of Punjab (BoP) launched interest-free Islamic banking at its Timergara branch.

Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Zubair was the chief guest at the launching ceremony, where country head of BoP Islamic banking Riaz Ahmad, legal adviser Mufti Dr Mushtaq Ahmad and local bank manager Mohammad Ayaz were also in attendance.

MORE DRONE HITS FEARED: Tribal elders and political and religious leaders in Khar, headquarters of Bajaur Agency, on Saturday unanimously condemned the Hangu drone strike and feared that the US would carry out such attacks in other parts of the country, too, if the government didn't appropriately raise the issue at international forum.

Talking to reporters, Malik Sultan Zab Khan , Malik Bahadar Khan , Malik Fazal Khan , local Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl General Secretary Maulana Abdur Rasheed, Jamaat-i-Islami chief Maulana Wahid Gull and Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf leader Mohammad Sultan Khan said the Hangu drone strike by the US were an open violation of Pakistan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.